Quiz: Howstuffworks

Are You a True Baby Boomer?

Brian Whitney

Image: THEPALMER / E+ / Getty Images

About This Quiz

It's the world of the Baby Boomer—the rest of us are just renting space. Baby Boomers are people who were born between 1946 and 1964.

If you were born between those years, then you're a Baby Boomer, at least by what most people say. But just because you were born into a certain generation that mean that's the one that you belong in. If you're a baby boomer, you probably think that Millennials don't work hard enough and are constantly glued to their phones. On the other hand, Millennials might look at Baby Boomers and see people who are out of touch, work too hard and don't have any idea of how to text.

Turns out, both groups have some biases that are upside down, as Boomers are most likely to be susceptible to "fake news" and Millennials had to work way harder than Boomers did to get into college.

So how do you tell whether someone is a true Baby Boomer? Well, we think we can find out just by asking a few simple questions about your life experience, how you think about things and how you deal with different situations. For example, if you remember using an ice box, had a just one single phone in your house that was connected to a wall, and remember when swearing was a really big deal, you're probably a Baby Boomer. Take this quiz and see if you're a true Baby Boomer.

Captain Kangaroo was a great show. How cool did you think Mr. Green Jeans was?

Who?

I didn't think much of him.

He was pretty cool.

He was awesome.

Have you ever had the pleasure of dialing a rotary phone?

I've never even seen one.

Maybe, when I was a kid.

Sure, I have a few times.

I've done it lots.

How often did you have drills in school that involved you hiding under your desk?

Regularly. And we barricaded the door and were stock still. You're talking about school shooter drill, right?

How often have you looked up information in an encyclopedia?

I used to a lot and sometimes I still do, even though our old one is out of date.

Did your family ever used to have a milkman deliver to your door?

A what?

No, we didn't.

When I was really young.

Sure we did.

Did you used to put baseball cards in the spokes of your bike?

No, why would I do that?

No, but I knew some people who did.

Yes, when I was little.

Sure, I did that.

Do you remember talking to the operator on a payphone?

I've never used a payphone.

I used a payphone, but I didn't have an operator.

Sure, once or twice.

Yes, all the time.

Do you think people spend way too much time on their phones these days?

Not even.

Maybe a little.

Sure.

Yes, it irritates me.

Did you used to go to a lot of drive-in movies?

I've never had the opportunity.

I went to a couple, but I didn't get what the big deal was.

Sure, I went to a few.

Yes, I went to a lot.

Did you ever watch the TV show "Wide World of Sports"?

Never heard of it.

No, I was too young.

I did some with my parents.

Sure, all the time.

How often did you have to use a typewriter?

I've never used one.

I used one once or twice.

I remember using them a lot for a long time.

I used them for much of my working career.

Were you a little freaked out the first time you sent an email?

No. Why?

No, it was pretty normal for me.

I was kind of freaked out.

Yes, I was really freaked out.

Did you enjoy checking out "Bonanza"?

I have no idea what you mean.

Do you mean the restaurant?

Sure, it was pretty good.

Yes, I loved that show.

How delicious were Swanson TV dinners?

I never heard of them.

I never had them.

They were pretty good.

Pretty bad, but we ate them anyway.

Do you remember when mail would be delivered twice a day?

No, did that really happen?

No, I am way too young for that.

No, but I've heard stories.

I was young, but I sure do.

Do you remember when a calculator was thought of as new technology?

I thought those had been around 100 years.

No, that was before my time.

Just barely.

I sure do.

Did you live in a time when people got dressed up to go shopping?

No, that sounds awful.

No, but that sounds kind of fun.

Yes, but I was a kid.

Yes, of course.

Back in the day, TV channels signed off and went to static at the end of the night. Do you remember this?

You have to be making this up.

I have heard of that, but have never seen it.

I kind of remember that.

I remember it well.

Where would you say you've got most of your books over your life?

Amazon

Some place other than Amazon online.

A book store.

The library.

When you were a teenager, what age was considered normal to get married?

33

29

25

20

Which of these was your favorite actor or actress on the "Mary Tyler Moore" show?

I don't know anyone on that show.

Umm, Mary Tyler Moore?

Ted Knight

Ed Asner

How cool is Paul Newman?

You mean the pizza guy?

He was cool for an old guy.

Pretty cool.

Really cool.

Do you remember when "Saturday Night Live" started?

No, I am way too young for that.

No, I am a bit too young.

I remember watching it when I was a kid.

Sure, I remember it well.

How excited did you get when the new phone book came out?

Wait, people got excited about that?

I remember thinking it was pretty cool.

I was pretty excited.

Really excited.

Did you used to have a transistor radio?

I have no idea what that is.

No, but I've seen them.

That wasn't my thing.

I did for sure.

Did you ever actually eat spam?

No, I thought that was a joke.

I had it once.

No, it was gross.

Sure, we had it all the time.

Do you remember changing channels on the TV with a knob?

OMG that sounds awful.

No, that was before my time.

Yes, but I was really young.

Sure, that was normal.

Who was your favorite '70s TV detective?

I don't know any.

Rockford

Columbo

Kojack

How excited were you when you bought your first record?

My first what?

I've never had a record.

Pretty excited

Really excited

Remember the days when everyone used to get Sear's catalogues?

I don't at all.

Vaguely

Sure, barely.

Yes, very well.

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